Multi-segment ring modulator

Abstract

A device that includes a multi-segment ring modulator is provided. In particular, the device comprises: an optical waveguide; an optical ring modulator optically coupled to the optical waveguide; a first voltage control device along a first segment of the optical ring modulator; a second voltage control device along a second segment of the optical ring modulator; a first driver device configured to control the first voltage control device to a first voltage and a second voltage; and, a second driver device configured to control the second voltage control device to a third voltage and a fourth voltage. In particular implementations, a ratio of a length of the first segment to a length of the second segment can be one or more of about 2:1 and greater than 1:1, and non-linear driver devices can be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 an optical waveguide; 
 an optical ring modulator optically coupled to the optical waveguide; 
 a first voltage control device along a first segment of the optical ring modulator; 
 a second voltage control device along a second segment of the optical ring modulator; 
 a first driver device configured to control the first voltage control device to a first voltage and a second voltage to control a resonance of the optical ring modulator according to a most significant bit of data encoding; and, 
 a second driver device configured to control the second voltage control device to a third voltage and a fourth voltage to control the resonance of the optical ring modulator according to least significant bit of data encoding. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of respective lengths of the first segment, where the first voltage control device is located, to the second segment, where the second voltage control device is located is about 2:1, the first voltage being about equal to the third voltage, and the second voltage being about equal to the fourth voltage. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of respective lengths of the first segment, where the first voltage control device is located, to the second segment, where the second voltage control device is located, is one or more of greater than 1:1 and about 2:1, the first voltage being about equal to the third voltage, and the second voltage being about equal to the fourth voltage. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first driver device and the second driver device comprises a respective non-linear driver device. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of respective lengths of the first segment, where the first voltage control device is located, to the second segment, where the second voltage control device is located is about 1:1, wherein at least one of: the third voltage is different from the first voltage; and the fourth voltage is different from the second voltage. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , the third voltage is about the same as the first voltage, and the fourth voltage is different from the second voltage. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first voltage control device and the second voltage control device comprise a respective diode, a respective junction of the respective diode located along a respective segment of the optical ring modulator. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first voltage control device and the second voltage control device comprise a respective diode, each of the first driver device and the second driver device configured to operate the respective diode in a reverse bias mode. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: one or more further voltage control devices along respective further segments of the optical ring modulator; and, one or more further driver devices each configured to control a respective further voltage control device to two respective voltages to control the resonance of the optical ring modulator according to further significant bits of data encoding. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the first driver device and the second driver device, the controller configured to: convert data to be transmitted along the optical waveguide into a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) compatible format; and control each of the first driver device and the second driver device to in turn control a respective voltage control device to modulate an optical signal on the optical waveguide to encode the data therein. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater configured to maintain a given temperature of the optical ring modulator. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a laser configured to provide an optical signal along the optical waveguide, the optical signal modulated by the optical ring modulator.